Webcomic Workshop Podcast 82

Solving Webcomic Issues We All Face.

This podcast we discuss: Robin and Byron are joined by Liz Staley of Adrastus and Christina Major of Sombulus to go over Byron’s issue of “Is the current environment conducive to doing pin-up art?” Great discussion on how women are perceived not only in comics, but in society as a whole. Join in and give us your feedback in the comment’s section.

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well speaking as a bloke from England who does a web comic about an Independent American city I found that conversation very interesting. My web comic has lots of female characters but I only do things in context, to my knowledge I have never gone out my way to push the sexuality of a character. I also cover topics that other people shy away from, such as disability it annoys me when this issue is only approached as a negative thing.

This was so, so refreshing. Brad Guigar and company also talked about this topic a few months back when the whole Frank Cho thing was fresh in our minds and while I get that they meant well, I was cringing for 90% of their podcast episode about it because some of them just didn’t get the whole safety issue. I feel so much better after listening to this, so thanks ladies (and Byron)!

I really think the safety component of this problem is one that a lot of people miss. Our culture is so sex-fixated that often conversation gets stuck in the loop of sex- vs sex+ and the core issue of SAFETY is missed. Turns out: People are different when it comes to sexuality…but the problems of safety (and the importance of consent in connection to sexuality) are preeeeetty universal.

It was really refreshing being able to talk about this topic without being accused of being “too sensitive!” or “spoiling everyone’s fun!” I found the topic to be very interesting and loved being on to discuss it! Thanks for listening, Ran!

We decided to take the road less traveled for this one. I’m really glad Byron brought up the subject, and Liz and Christina were willing to come on the show. I know I needed to talk about this stuff, and I was interested to hear their view points. To have more than one woman, instead of “Hey, you’re a lone woman, tell me the collective opinion of your people” was really important to me.

It was like family to me. Grew up in a house filled with women, it was very natural to take in their insights. I learned a lot and that knowledge will guide me in my endeavors. I think I understand the line that should not be crossed.

Thank you so much for this! Byron, you really are a courageous Old Fart! I appreciate you bringing up this topic, especially with these women for whom I have the utmost respect.

I have now three times tried to write and ended up deleting some of my own stories here. Stories of broken trust, abuse and yes, even rape, as a young and naive woman, at the hands of men to whom I had extended my trust.

I learned very early in life that because I was female, I was useless for anything other than a sex object, domestic slave, or whipping girl. Fortunately for me the accumulation of abuse served only to make me more and more angry and determined to live my own life my own way. It took decades for me to climb out of that hole of rage and poverty. I can’t tell you how happy I am that women (and men) are beginning to talk about these abuses more openly.

Then again, I think about the kinds of things that happen to people who try to redress the social imbalances, and I am once again silenced. But only briefly. I’m afraid my default stance is one of negativity, so I need all the hopefulness and inspiration I can get. Being aware of that can help a lot. And discussions like I heard here in this podcast renew my hope.

Now in all seriousness, when I hear of women who have suffered verbal or physical/sexual abuse from men, it maddens me to no end. I am sure I said this in the podcast, but I cannot fathom hurting ANY human being, let alone a woman. And I say that not because women are weak, quite the contrary, women as group are much stronger than men. I say that in absolute generality, but you understand my point. Men judge others by physical strength. I judge people by their size of their heart for compassion and understanding. And women win that hands down. Men need a kick in the ass and some serious enlightenment.

I am so sorry for the men who have abused/misused you. I only know you from our on-line interactions, but you have always struck me as intelligent and very talented. Maybe that scares men. It shouldn’t. If it were up to me, I’d let women rule the world for a while. I believe in very short order things would improve.

Thanks for listening and I hope to continue to break more of these “risky” subjects up. If we start talking about them, then they shall not be so “scary” and can shine some much needed light on the subjects.

thank you for your kind words, Byron.
I have mixed feelings about women ruling the world, but that probably comes from having a mother who looked the other way, and also from growing up in an era where females were made to be competitive with each other for a place in a man’s world. I do know that women can be just as bad as the baddest of men, having the same range of attitudes, ambitions, and behaviors available to them. I would suggest that if women are to rule the world,that we only allow lactating mothers to take on that role. Their brains are full of oxytocin. ;`)

I can feel very negative and hopeless about the potential for change myself. I think that it’s sadly telling that I was afraid to even look at the comments on this podcast for a week, because I was afraid of attack for even talking about these subjects. I think that fear, all on its own, is indicative of the problems in our culture right now. On the other hand, the fact that my fear was unfounded, and people are responding so positively to our discussion, is also cause for me to be hopeful. I don’t know what the future will bring, but I hope that by educating and discussing, we can all strive to make it a little better.

Thank you for not giving up. For being determined to make your own way and live your own life. I think that is so powerful. You are amazing!!

I can understand, and even applaud not looking at comments until some time has passed. Very wise! I think you hit the nail on the head about the fear factor.
My (unfinished, on hiatus) graphic novel draws heavily from my own childhood, growing up female in a family and community where femme children were a waste of food and lodging, unless they could be … useful. So yes. I grew up terrified, and in some situations the terror can easily take hold again. I will retreat, but I will never be stopped forever.
You, Robin, have been an inspiration to me from the start of my late-blooming comic career. I love how much you are out there, how much you give, your abundant energy, your ability to plan, your vulnerability, your creativity. That’s what it looks like from out here. I’m sure I don’t have the same kind of courage that you seem to exhibit. We’re all doing the best we can in a dangerous and yet still glorious world.
I am the happiest I have ever been right now. There are changes and struggles and challenges ahead. Yes the world is changing rapidly, hopefully headed closer to the kind of world the more compassionate of us want to live in.
Thanks for the encouragement. Thanks for being you.

We all have our own form of courage, and what looks brave from the outside never seems to feel that way from the inside. I’ve concluded the only difference between abject terror and courage is which direction you run: away from what terrifies you, or towards it. Beyond that, it feels the same either way. Which may be why it’s so hard to recognize our own bravery.

Jande, you ever need support for something, just ask. I’m always willing to help a fellow artist out. All of us here at the WA are.

Robin, you’re stronger than you give yourself credit. Watching you do your videos has given me hope that I can stand on the “other” side of the camera and come off as confident and outgoing as you are. Why do you think I worked post-production as a TV director? I didn’t have to be on-camera. Scares the shit out of me, and I’m as outgoing as they come.

And God as my witness (whatever God that is), I hope to live to see the day all this shit if behind us. Discussing it like this is a good step.

Very heavy subject, but I’m glad you posted this. Women are the main characters in my comic. They are sexy, but I think I have made them strong and capable individuals and hopefully not objectified. I think they follow the criteria laid down in the Podcast by Robin, Liz and Christina. I grew up with a single mom and saw firsthand how she was treated by employers and men in general, but she was strong and did a great job raising my brother and I hope that she would be okay with the way I handle my characters in my comic…always with respect and admiration.

Oy, single moms get so much shit. Give your Mom a big hug for me, she deserves it. It’s funny, even though I draw a PG-17 comic, I know my Mom would be a fan of it, and not just because I was her little boy. I really do think about how my Mom would react if she were still with us. So, in essence, how she raised me is influencing how I represent stuff in my comic. She was very open minded and I know she’d find it funny without being offended.

So I’m glad you’re remembering how your Mom raised you and it’s influencing how you write and represent you comic characters. Good job all around!

This episode was so awesome. So many good points made, some I’ve never even thought about. The idea of being whispered to that you don’t belong and that building anger is exactly how i feel. I’ve never had a direct experience with my gender and comics but I see so many stories every day that I have that anger and fear. I’m literally just starting and I’ve worried for so long about what will happen with me being a woman. This episode has helped give me a little more courage to keep trucking on. Keep up the good work!!

Byron, My mom was my biggest advocate for my art and she encouraged me to keep drawing . She was a hobby artist herself and I know it made her happy that I had some talent and would carry the torch, so to speak. And as you said, being her child, I could probably do no wrong in her eyes. I was just happy that she was able to see me working as an editorial cartoonist at a local paper before she passed and know that all her encouragement and enthusiasm for my stuff wasn’t wasted.
Thanks again for the great podcast all of you!

Great Podcast Gang, and it was great to hear your guests views on this matter as well.

It’s a tough battle for sure, as unfortunately sex sells. This has been the rule of thumb for comics since day one but as it becomes more apparent to the industry that women are reading comics (and making them too!) Just looking at a PREVIEWS magazine – the overtly sexy impossible poses, hints of nipples through costumes, and inflated anatomy, it doesn’t seem like quick change will happen. I even have heard that a popular PATREON tier is one with an ‘adults only’ images. You can’t blame someone for making a living I suppose but hopefully a more tasteful level of sexual images will prevail.

It got me thinking, I wonder how some male comic book readers would react if suddenly Bats and Supes were drawn more sexualized, in a constant state of undress and an extremely detailed crotch region that was constantly thrusting forward. Ha, I bet the Editor would insist on it being redrawn.

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10 Things For Digital Artists To Do

1. Create a short, snappy Elevator Pitch
2. Define who you are as an artist
3. Define Your Audience
4. Learn the logistics of being on the web
5. Draw every day
6. Network on-line AND in person
7. Do Your Best: Quality over Quantity
8. Learn to write well
9. Constantly educate yourself
10. To learn to celebrate: Feel good about what you've done